You're the one that I want! You’ll leave the theatre laughing, singing and ready to dance after seeing this Grease the way it was meant to be seen – in its original 1950s Chicago setting. Starring Janel Parrish (from TV’s Pretty Little Liars) and a thrilling young cast of pink ladies and greasers who will rock your favourite songs from the movie in stunning new arrangements for the stage. Grease is directed by Broadway choreographer Josh Prince (Beautiful, The Carole King Musical and Shrek, The Musical).

After 22 years, the elves in Ross Petty’s holiday extravaganza factory are jumping for joy. Finally, they can begin creating audience delights for a family musical that’s actually about Christmas! And they’re really excited about the return of Dan Chameroy as Plumbum … an elf icon! Eddie Glen, an honourary elf, is back to star in his 15th production with AJ Bridel (an elf-ette in training). Get ready for a show to delight children and adults alike with songs, dances, jokes, ad libs and a generous helping of audience participation. Look out Mr. Scrooge … your boos are waiting!

Performance schedule

Born in 1963, Andrea Pellegrini comes from an old musical family. He has been studying piano with his father Gianfranco, an Italian jazz musician of the 50’s, and with Prof. Matilde Vigo and Prof. Ilio Barontini in Livorno since the age of 5. Then he studied Classical Percussion with Giannino Ferrari, a percussionist in the Orchestra of the Municipal Theatre of Florence, at the Conservatory of Livorno (Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali “Pietro Mascagni”).

He later attended the course “Corso di Alta Qualificazione per Musicisti di Jazz e Derivazioni Contemporanee (Advanced Specialisation Course for Jazz Musicians and Contemporary Derivations)” organized and funded by the European Union, the Province of Siena and the Siena Jazz Music School, standing out as one of the best students. Some months later, he recorded and played along with one of his former teachers, the trumpeter Paolo Fresu.

He finally earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz (110/110 summa cum laude, worthy of publication) from the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali “Pietro Mascagni”, Livorno. He started his professional career as a professional jazz musician in 1989.

While some people spend their whole lives dreaming of becoming a star, others make it happen in addition to enjoying meaningful careers. This is Colin Hunter’s story: a singer who soared to extraordinary heights in his business career and now shines brightly in the entertainment industry.

Colin Hunter is the Chairman and founder of Sunwing Travel Group. In 2005, to commemorate the launch of Sunwing Airlines, he recorded his first Big Band CD “Come Fly with me”. Since then he has recorded 12 CD’s. Six with Big Band leaders Anthony Terpstra in Ontario and Roland Martel in Quebec City, and six with the Joe Sealy Quartet in Toronto. Colin performs regularly in Ontario and Quebec and at Jazz Festivals in Montreal, Quebec City, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Dubai. In addition his schedule includes regular gigs at his own Jazz Bistro, in Toronto.

Known for his smooth voice and relaxed rhythmic interpretations, Colin Hunter takes pleasure in being on stage and entertaining his audience. He is proof that an entrepreneur/crooner can follow his passions and fly as high as he wants.

His music is features on iTunes, Spotify, and CD Baby, and is mostly drawn from the great American Songbook.

While some people spend their whole lives dreaming of becoming a star, others make it happen in addition to enjoying meaningful careers. This is Colin Hunter‘s story: a singer who soared to extraordinary heights in his business career and now shines brightly in the entertainment industry.

Colin Hunter is the Chairman and founder of Sunwing Travel Group. In 2005, to commemorate the launch of Sunwing Airlines, he recorded his first Big Band CD “Come Fly with me”. Since then he has recorded 12 CD’s: Six with Big Band leaders Anthony Terpstra in Ontario and Roland Martel in Quebec City, and six with the Joe Sealy Quartet in Toronto. Colin performs regularly in Ontario and Quebec and at Jazz Festivals in Montreal, Quebec City, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Dubai. In addition his schedule includes regular gigs at his own Jazz Bistro, in Toronto.

An Officer of the Order of Canada, JUNO-award winning artist Joe Sealy has enjoyed a highly successful career as a musician, composer, recording artist and radio broadcaster. His 1997 Juno Award winning Africville Suite inspired Ron Foley MacDonald of The Halifax Daily News to write; “This may be the most important jazz album released in Canada this year”. Joe has presented “The Africville Suite” in concert venues and at music festivals across Canada as well as Denmark, Norway and the USA. As a pianist, he has toured with “Blood Sweat and Tears” and performed with such artists as Joe Williams, Milt Jackson, Veronica Tennant, and Timothy Findlay.

Paul Novotny knows how to make the bass talk. Singers like Jackie Richardson, Holly Cole, Carol Welsman and Molly Johnson would all agree. They have called upon Paul for his melodic and rhythmic style. Paul’s production of Joe Sealy’s Juno Award-winning (1997) “Africville Suite” helped to establish him as one Canada’s best record producers. Paul is also an established Film/ TV composer and has written and produced music for many national radio and TV commercials. As a jazz bass player Paul has performed with Cedar Walton, Geoff Keezer, Junior Mance, Don Thompson, Tommy Banks, and others. Paul is also a professor at Humber College, School of Creative and Performing Arts in Toronto.

Drummer, composer, producer and singer Daniel Barnes was born into an artistic family in the central hub of downtown Toronto, Canada in 1965. His recordings are available through major retail outlets, at itunes.com and through www.danielbarnes.net. Daniel was nominated “Drummer of the Year” at both the 2003 and 2007 National Jazz Awards while his work with others has thrice been nominated for Juno awards with a win in 1996 for Joe Sealy’s “Africville Suite”.

A relatively new force to reckon with in the Toronto music scene, Alison Young is from Ottawa where she honed her craft playing in local blues and R&B bands. After studying at the University of Toronto with Canadian sax greats Mike Murley and Kirk MacDonald, Alison has emerged as one of the Toronto music scene’s hottest and most sought after reed players. Alison plays all kinds of music and has toured Canada with pop group Kelly and the Kellygirls and with the one and only Big Rude Jake.

Join us for this unique opportunity to make a rustic Scottish meal including the infamous Haggis. Participants will work in the historic kitchen and explore the lives of 19th-century Scottish settlers.

Originally from Philadelphia, Ben studied both classical and jazz music before moving to the great city of Chicago. There he spent years performing and working with the top musicians in town, absorbing the unique blend of Jazz and Blues that can only be found in the Windy City. Now re-located to New York, Ben is poised to bring his unique talents and style to a wider audience, combining hard-swinging grooves and melodic improvisation with an impeccable touch.

Whether playing lush ballads on the piano, digging into some hard-driving blues-tinged organ jazz on the Hammond B3, or singing classic tunes made by the likes of Ray Charles and Nat King Cole, Ben has garnered international acclaim for his superb musicianship and engaging performances, able to draw in both afficionados and Jazz neophytes alike.

Ben can be seen leading his own groups regularly at premier Jazz clubs around New York and at festivals around the world. As a sideman he has opened for groups including Steely Dan, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, and is a first call accompanist for some of the best in the business.

Based on the poems of Joseph Brodsky

Directed by Alvis Hermanis | Performed by Mikhail Baryshnikov

Making its anticipated Canadian premiere, Brodsky/Baryshnikov is a one-man theatrical performance – by Mikhail Baryshnikov – that gives voice and verse to the poetry of Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky. Conceived and directed by Alvis Hermanis – noted Latvian director of The New Riga Theatre – Brodsky/Baryshnikov is a synthesis of word and action, an emotional journey deep into the poet’s visceral and complex compositions. Performed in Russian – Brodsky's mother tongue – Baryshnikov recites a selection of his long-time friend’s poignant and eloquent works. His subtle physicality transports the audience into Hermanis’ reverential imagining of Brodsky’s interior world. An intimate conversation, both meditative and contemplative, between two exiled artists that transcends mortality, the imagery of Brodsky/Baryshnikov is darkly radiant. While neither a dance piece nor a straight narrative, Baryshnikov gives life to Brodsky's hypnotic verse and invites the viewer into the physical world that his poems elicit.

Described as a rising star of the Canadian music scene and as a performer who has her “audience enthralled throughout the entire show”, Mary-Catherine is a singer based in Kitchener, Ontario. Mary-Catherine’s passion has always been singing and performing. She loves exploring the endless repertoire of The Great American Songbook, and making the sublime lyrics her own with a nostalgic, yet modern, flair.

After graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2010 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Music and Drama (2010), Mary-Catherine embarked on a performance career.

Mary-Catherine’s performance highlights include a tour of New Zealand, headliner at the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, The Rex, Jazz Bistro, The Registry Theatre, soloist with the K-W Symphony, and multiple concerts at The Jazz Room.

Mary-Catherine’s album “You’re Gonna Hear From Me” (2017) was recorded with Pat Collins, Don Buchanan, Jason Hunter, and Steve James.

“As she sang and told the stories of those timeless melodies, it felt like she was reciting poetry. She created music of a calibre and artistry seldom heard… A remarkable evening of admirable music.”

Winterlicious Dates: January 26 – February 8, 2018Location: More than 220 Toronto restaurants

Winterlicious is one of Toronto’s most popular culinary celebrations. The restaurant programs were created in 2003 to promote Toronto’s unique hospitality industry, showcase Toronto’s diverse cuisine and profile fine dining experiences at a range of price points.

Winterlicious consist of a prix fixe program offered by more than 220 of Toronto’s dining establishments. Three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus are offered at $18, $23, or $28 for lunch and $28, $38 or $48 for dinner (beverages, taxes and gratuities not included). In addition to the prix fixe promotion, Winterlicious also features a series of ticketed culinary experiences.

The Steve Koven Trio is a Canadian, Toronto-based jazz group. Pianist Koven is joined by long time members, Anthony Michelli on drums and Rob Clutton on bass.

Formed in 1993, the trio has performed world-wide, and has established themselves as one of Canada’s cultural ambassadors.

The band has released ten critically-acclaimed albums since their debut, Live at the Senator, in 1997. Many of their compositions have been used for national and international film and TV productions.

“The trio made a remarkable demonstrations of why Canadian Jazz is truly world class”

–Scott McCook – First Secretary Public Affairs, Embassy of Canada in Mexico

“Steve Koven brings to the stage, a contagious passion for jazz that has made him one of the finest performers in the biz”

— Montreal International Jazz Festival – press release 2009

“Koven can create a piece out of thin air in the time it takes for him to play it. He can be as experimental as John Cage, as impressionistic as Claude Debussy, or as bluesy as Fats Waller. The common denominators are superb technique and a fresh approach to the music.”

Join us for this unique opportunity to make a rustic Scottish meal including the infamous Haggis. Participants will work in the historic kitchen and explore the lives of 19th-century Scottish settlers.

Judith Lander is a cabaret legend and a Broadway stage veteran, originally from Winnipeg MB. Judith has performed across the globe, with career highlights on Broadway (New York City), Boston MA, Toronto ON.

“Judith Lander possesses not only the rare quality of singing the very heart of the song but, better yet, the rare talent of singing into the heart of the listener.” — After Dark Magazine, N.Y.

“Lander raised the roof!” — Toronto Star

“Legendary!” — Martha’s Vineyard Times

“Lander happens to be the greatest interpreter of Weill material I have ever heard, with the exception of [Lotte] Lenya, and it’s always a special occasion when she gets to prove it.” — Martin Knelman, The Toronto Star

Join Judith and friends at the Jazz Bistro at a concert celebrating Judith’s 70th birthday!

Join William Lyon Mackenzie and his wife Isabel in their 1860’s home for a unique dining and theatrical experience. This intimate event includes period music and food, as well as the opportunity for participants to interact with actors playing Mackenzie and Isabel. Talk with the Mackenzies during a four course meal based on the Victorian fare curated by award winning Chef Karen O'Connor of Daniel et Daniel Catering & Events. Guests will leave with a souvenir that they have printed on the museum's historic 1845 flatbed press.